California took a small step backward last season, but football fever in Berkeley is still going strong.

In fact, a lot of Cal fans, fired up by the electrifying running backs and the strong-armed defenders, think this is the season they've been waiting for since Jeff Tedford took over a moribund program in 2002. Four winning seasons have followed, and the talent level keeps getting better. So what's standing between the Bears and a major bowl the first week in January?

Two things, at least.

• Southern California.

Though the Trojans will take the field this season without Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and LenDale White, there is still enough talent left that the Trojans, who have abided at or near the top of the polls the past three years, will likely remain there. For the record, USC, not Cal, is favored to win the Pacific-10 title.

• A polished quarterback.

It was the big issue last year when Cal slipped from 10-2 in 2004 to 8-4. Starter Nate Longshore broke his leg in the second quarter of the Bears' season opener. Junior college transfer Joe Ayoob, of whom much was expected, had a hard time delivering. At the end of the season, the Bears turned to option No. 3, Steve Levy.

As a result of the problems at QB, the Bears, despite a phenomenal running game featuring terrific tailbacks Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett and a stout defense that led the Pac-10 in scoring defense, lost four of their last seven games and scored just 10 points in their loss to USC.

The same three quarterbacks will give it another try this year. Longshore, a 6-5, 233-pound sophomore, has the edge. But Ayoob, a 6-3, 233-pound senior, and Levy, a 6-1, 226-pound senior, might play, too.

Tedford has built his reputation largely on being able to get the best out of quarterbacks. If he can find a confident, efficient playmaker from among that trio, this could be the team that ends the Trojans' dominance atop the Pac-10.

There are seven starters back on an offense that again will feature a potent 1-2 punch in Lynch and Forsett. Lynch, a 5-11, 217-pound junior who gained 1,246 yards (6.4 yards a carry) last year, is drawing enough Heisman attention that he and Tedford have discussed the hype and how to handle it.

"Marshawn has the potential to be one of the most talented players in the country," Tedford says. "We have a responsibility to make that known. We have talked about the responsibility that comes along with that as far as being the so-called face of the program. He's not absolutely comfortable with that. He would prefer to keep the spotlight off himself.

"By no means does he put himself on a pedestal because he's in a position to have his name mentioned for the Heisman. He's very focused on the team goals."

Receivers DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan, who combined for 72 receptions and 1,056 yards, are capable of more if the quarterbacks deliver.

To create more space for his skill players, Tedford is expected to incorporate elements of a spread offense into his traditional downhill running scheme. In some sets, Lynch and Forsett could be on the field at the same time. "We think we can create some mismatches," Tedford says.

Eight starters return on a defense that was perhaps the league's best last year. Cornerback Daymeion Hughes and defensive lineman Brandon Mebane, both all-Pac-10 last year, are the headliners.

Whether large expectations are misplaced could be answered early; the Bears open Sept. 2 at Tennessee.

If they can beat the Volunteers, they should be 3-0 when they host explosive Arizona State. Two weeks after that, they host Oregon, another title contender. The grand plan is to take a 10-0 record to Los Angeles on Nov. 18 to play the Trojans. Are they going to get the Trojans this year?

Lynch repeats the question to some teammates. "Hey, we gonna get the Trojans this year?" he asks.

Nods all around.

"We're gonna get 'em all," Lynch says.

Inside the Pac-10

Southern California has been picked to win the league for the fourth consecutive year, but unlike the last two seasons when USC was a unanimous choice, the Trojans garnered 18 of 29 first-place votes in the media poll. California, Oregon and Arizona State also received first-place support. USC has won the last three Pac-10 titles. With the NCAA increasing the number of regular-season games to 12, the Pac-10 has adopted a round-robin, nine-game conference schedule. It marks the first time since Arizona and Arizona State joined the league in 1978 that the conference will have a round-robin schedule in football. For the first time since 2000, there are no new head coaches in the league.